Disney Channel locks in Eric Friedman

The exec producer and showrunner for Bizaardvark has signed an agreement to create and develop new projects exclusively for the kidcaster.

Building on a 10-year affiliation with Disney Channel, writer/producer Eric Friedman has signed an exclusive new deal to create and develop new projects solely for the network.

Friedman has written and produced five comedy series for the linear channel to date, including live-actioner Bizaardvark, which wrapped production after three seasons. He also created and exec produced Crash and Bernstein for Disney XD, and served as a writer on Austin & Ally, Teamo Supremo and I’m in the Band.

Prior to his work with Disney, Friedman wrote on Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh and Zoey 101.

Exclusive overall deals are something of a trend in the kids space right now. Fellow House of Mouse writer/producer Travis Braun signed a similar agreement this month, in the midst of putting together both T.O.T.S. for Disney Junior and Fast Layne for Disney Channel. And Netflix continues to sign Disney alumni to creative development deals, including Chris Williams (whose past credits feature Disney’s Moana, Bolt, Big Hero 6, The Emperor’s New Groove, Mulan, Brother Bear and Frozen) for a new CG-animated feature called Jacob and the Sea Beast, and executive producers Alex Woo (Wall-E, Ratatouille) and Stanley Moore (Finding Dory, Monster’s University) for new series Go! Go Cory Carson.